On weekends, Church Street in Bengaluru offers a unique atmosphere. The street is alive with buskers playing soulful music, talented artists, photographers, cartoonists, and aspiring entrepreneurs showcasing innovative food and quirky artwork. Social media creators capture the street's essence, and fortune tellers add to the eclectic mix. College student Kulsum describes Church Street as a place where you can experience the essence and creativity of Bengaluru. Uttamveer, a long-time vendor, notes the street's evolution over the past three decades, from a few stalls to a bustling area due to Bengaluru's IT boom, despite increased competition.

Psychology student Arul practices face reading on Church Street, offering intuitive insights for free as a way to share his unique skill with the supportive crowd. Authors also find a platform on Church Street, especially self-published writers like Moyeen VN, who sold over 7,000 copies of his book by taking advantage of the street's foot traffic and nearby bookstores. Another author, Mahavir, known as SJ Johnson, stands out by his distinct approach.His book is available for purchase on a pay-what-you-wish basis. He explains, "I aim to simply share my work and collect feedback from readers a week later."

Situated at the intersection of Brigade Road and Church Street is Fakhruddin, a skilled player of the Indian coconut violin known as pitil in Kannada. A familiar figure in the area for over three decades, he states, "I can perform any song in any language - Kannada, English, Telugu, you name it. I began playing my tunes on Church Street 30 years ago... Now, blind in one eye, I am content when people stop to listen to my music."

From accomplished musicians like Raghu Dixit to budding artists seeking to entertain, including regular performers like Fakhruddin with his pitil, Church Street is a hub of diverse talents.

Numerous small businesses are thriving on Church Street, with young entrepreneurs juggling their dreams and the responsibilities of adulthood. One vendor admits, "This is my side gig. I haven't informed my parents yet; they think I'm just hanging out with friends. I hope this venture takes off so I can share it with them eventually. For now, I want to promote my work on Church Street and see where it leads."

Shravani, a resin artist, shares, "Working at a studio where I teach art to students, I've always wanted to establish something independent. A friend suggested trying out a stall here, and it has been a great platform to showcase my creations."

Divya, a maker of handcrafted jewelry, explains, "Inspired by my sister's background in design and my mom's creativity, we decided to give it a shot. Starting a business isn't as simple as it seems. While Church Street may offer free space, the effort required is substantial. We need to arrive by 5:30 am to secure a spot and often stay until 1 am."

Dhanush, a college student with a Polaroid cameAmera provides quick photo keepsakes to customers for Rs 150 each. He mentions that he can take up to 50 photos in one evening, sometimes more. During our conversation, a group of women from Kerala who were on a college reunion in Bengaluru approached and asked to have their picture taken. Dhanush promptly gathered the group and expertly captured their reunion in a single photo. After handing over the developing picture, the group was thrilled and requested five more. Amera expressed his happiness in being able to help people create memories.